Actinic Keratosis Quiz
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Redness of the skin
My skin is dry
Red spots on skin
Skin peeling
Skin is red
Dry flaky skin
My feet are red
Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!
What is Actinic Keratosis?
A rough, scaly patch on the skin caused by damage from UV rays, typically from years of sunlight exposure. The rash itself is not cancerous, but has a chance of becoming cancerous, so careful monitoring is important.
Typical Symptoms of Actinic Keratosis
- Dry and flaky skin
- Skin lumps with scabs in the center
- Skin problems
- Redness, bumps, or irritation on the skin
- Skin lumps
Diagnostic Questions for Actinic Keratosis
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
- Do you have dry and flaky skin?
- Do you have a skin lump with a scab or crust in the center?
- Do you have any skin problems
- Have you noticed any redness, bumps, or irritation on your skin?
- Have you noticed any lumps on your skin?
Treatment of Actinic Keratosis
This condition may disappear without treatment but can return with sun exposure, so avoiding sunlight and applying sunblock may help. Creams or minor procedures can be recommended to remove it.
Reviewed By:
Sarita Nori, MD (Dermatology)
Dr. Sarita Nori was drawn to dermatology because of the intersection of science and medicine that is at the heart of dermatology. She feels this is what really allows her to help her patients. “There is a lot of problem-solving in dermatology and I like that,” she explains. “It’s also a profession where you can help people quickly and really make a difference in their lives.” | Some of the typical skin problems that Dr. Nori treats include skin cancers, psoriasis, acne, eczema, rashes, and contact dermatitis. Dr Nori believes in using all possible avenues of treatment, such as biologics, especially in patients with chronic diseases such as eczema and psoriasis. “These medications can work superbly, and they are really life-changing for many patients.” | Dr. Nori feels it’s important for patients to have a good understanding of the disease or condition that is affecting them. “I like to educate my patients on their problem and have them really understand it so they can take the best course of action. Patients always do better when they understand their skin condition, and how to treat it.”
Yukiko Ueda, MD (Dermatology)
Dr. Ueda graduated from the Niigata University School of Medicine and trained at the University of Tokyo Medical School. She is currently a clinical assistant professor at the Department of Dermatology, Jichi Medical University, and holds several posts in the dermatology departments at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Komagome Hospital, University of Tokyo, and the Medical Center of Japan Red Cross Society.
Content updated on Dec 5, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
- Increase in dandruff
- Rashes
- Scaly skin
- Lumps under skin
- Cracked skin
- Leg rash
- Scaly skin that rubs off
- Desquamation
- Red rash
- Hand skin is dry
- Reddish skin lumps
- Pink rash
- There is a sore on the side
- Bumps on my arm
- Rash on the wrist
See full list
Symptoms Related to Actinic Keratosis
Diseases Related to Actinic Keratosis
FAQs
Q.
Is It Early Stage Skin Cancer? Why Your Skin Is Changing & Medical Next Steps
A.
Skin changes are common and often harmless, but certain signs can point to early skin cancer, including an evolving or irregular mole (ABCDE), a new growth or sore that does not heal, or a rough scaly patch on sun exposed skin. This page outlines what to watch for and who is at higher risk. If you notice a persistent or changing spot, schedule a prompt exam with a doctor since a quick skin check and possible biopsy can confirm the cause and early treatments are usually simple and highly effective. There are several factors that can change your next steps; see the complete guidance below.
References:
* Menzies SW, Crotty KA, McCarthy WH. The recognition of early melanoma. Australas J Dermatol. 2017 Aug;58(3):179-186. doi: 10.1111/ajd.12642. Epub 2017 May 17. PMID: 28514030.
* Apalla Z, Lallas A, Sotiriou E, Lazaridou E, Ioannides D. Dermatoscopy of nonmelanocytic skin tumours. Clin Dermatol. 2016 May-Jun;34(3):328-36. doi: 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2016.02.012. Epub 2016 Mar 4. PMID: 27265072.
* Scope A, Marchetti MA, Marghoob AA, Argenziano G, Zalaudek I, Braun RP, Pellacani G, Halpern AC. The differential diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016 Jun;74(6):1033-46. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2015.09.076. Epub 2016 Feb 26. PMID: 26922987.
* Olsson P, Helgesson G, Wennberg AM, Lindahl-Jacobsen L. Skin cancer self-examination: Perceptions and practices among adults with high risk of skin cancer. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2018 Jun;32(6):1020-1025. doi: 10.1111/jdv.14811. Epub 2018 Feb 21. PMID: 29337583.
* Rosendahl C, Tschandl P, Ferrara G, Ebrahimi A, Menzies S. The dermatoscope as a screening tool. Clin Dermatol. 2020 Jul-Aug;38(4):379-393. doi: 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2020.03.003. Epub 2020 Mar 20. PMID: 32763071.
Q.
Is it skin cancer? Why your skin is changing & medical next steps
A.
There are several factors to consider; skin changes can be harmless or cancer, and key warning signs include a new or evolving spot, a sore that does not heal or bleeds, ABCDE features of melanoma, and rough scaly sun-exposed patches that can be precancerous actinic keratoses. See below to understand more about personal risk, self checks, when to see a dermatologist and what to expect at the visit, plus treatment and prevention; if anything is new, changing, not healing, or the ugly duckling, schedule a prompt skin exam because early detection is highly treatable.
References:
* Garbe, C., Rehm, C., Kutzner, H., Schadendorf, D., & Gesierich, A. (2021). Diagnosis of Malignant Melanoma: A Review of Current and Emerging Techniques. Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft = Journal of the German Society of Dermatology : JDDG, 19(3), 350–367.
* Work, G., & Bhatti, B. (2019). Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer: Pathophysiology and Management. Seminars in cutaneous medicine and surgery, 38(2), 114–121.
* Reschke, J., & Darragh, M. (2020). Skin Cancer Screening and Early Detection: What's New?. Dermatologic clinics, 38(3), 365–375.
* Kittler, H., Marghoob, A. A., Argenziano, G., Geller, A., Menzies, S., Scope, A., Zalaudek, I., & Soyer, H. P. (2021). Dermoscopy for Melanoma Detection: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV, 35(8), 1637–1649.
* Scope, A., Marghoob, A. A., & Liebman, T. N. (2021). Atypical moles: Management and follow-up. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 85(1), 173–182.
Q.
Is it a sun spot or precancer? The truth about actinic keratosis & next medical steps
A.
A rough, scaly, sandpapery patch on sun exposed skin is often actinic keratosis, which is precancerous and can become squamous cell carcinoma; a smooth, flat, evenly pigmented spot is usually a benign sun spot. Because you cannot predict which AKs will progress, have persistent or changing spots checked by a clinician for possible biopsy and treatment such as cryotherapy, topical creams, photodynamic therapy, or minor removal. There are several factors to consider that could change your next steps; see the complete guidance below.
References:
* Reichrath, J., et al. "Actinic keratosis versus sun-damaged skin: differential diagnosis for pathologists." *J Cutan Pathol*, vol. 38, no. 5, 2011, pp. 549-554. *PubMed*, doi:10.1111/j.1600-0560.2010.01662.x.
* Bagel, J. "Actinic Keratosis: Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, Clinical Presentation, Diagnosis, and Management." *J Drugs Dermatol*, vol. 19, no. 1, 2020, pp. 9-14. *PubMed*, PMID: 31923019.
* Korgavkar, K., et al. "Guidelines of care for the management of actinic keratosis." *J Am Acad Dermatol*, vol. 84, no. 3, 2021, pp. 793-802. *PubMed*, doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2019.09.068.
* Eroğlu, N., et al. "Progression of actinic keratosis to squamous cell carcinoma: A review of the literature." *J Dermatolog Treat*, vol. 33, no. 7, 2022, pp. 1538-1544. *PubMed*, doi:10.1080/09546634.2021.1963733.
* Pellacani, G., et al. "Current methods for the diagnosis of actinic keratosis." *G Ital Dermatol Venereol*, vol. 156, no. 5, 2021, pp. 548-554. *PubMed*, doi:10.23736/S0392-0488.21.06941-2.
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Ubie’s symptom checker demonstrated a Top-10 hit accuracy of 71.6%, surpassing the performance of several leading symptom checkers in the market, which averaged around 60% accuracy in similar assessments.
Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Hashim PW, Chen T, Rigel D, Bhatia N, Kircik LH. Actinic Keratosis: Current Therapies and Insights Into New Treatments. J Drugs Dermatol. 2019 May 1;18(5):s161-166.. PMID: 31141862.
https://jddonline.com/articles/actinic-keratosis-current-therapies-and-insights-into-new-treatments-S1545961619S0161X/Dirschka T, Gupta G, Micali G, Stockfleth E, Basset-Séguin N, Del Marmol V, Dummer R, Jemec GBE, Malvehy J, Peris K, Puig S, Stratigos AJ, Zalaudek I, Pellacani G. Real-world approach to actinic keratosis management: practical treatment algorithm for office-based dermatology. J Dermatolog Treat. 2017 Aug;28(5):431-442. doi: 10.1080/09546634.2016.1254328. Epub 2016 Nov 13. PMID: 27796187.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09546634.2016.1254328Eisen DB, Asgari MM, Bennett DD, Connolly SM, Dellavalle RP, Freeman EE, Goldenberg G, Leffell DJ, Peschin S, Sligh JE, Wu PA, Frazer-Green L, Malik S, Schlesinger TE. Guidelines of care for the management of actinic keratosis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2021 Oct;85(4):e209-e233. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2021.02.082. Epub 2021 Apr 2. PMID: 33820677.
https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(21)00502-8/fulltextCramer P, Stockfleth E. Actinic keratosis: where do we stand and where is the future going to take us? Expert Opin Emerg Drugs. 2020 Mar;25(1):49-58. doi: 10.1080/14728214.2020.1730810. Epub 2020 Feb 20. PMID: 32067498.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14728214.2020.1730810